Stages of the 2014 Tour de France

Stage 8: Tomblaine to Gérardmer la Mauselaine, July 12, 161km

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The Tour has visited the Vosges in France’s northeastern corner only a handful of times in the past quarter century, but twice in the past five editions. For 2014, the race returns with two tricky medium mountain stages of shorter, steep climbs on narrow roads that will force the favorites to be watchful. It’s not a long stage by Tour standards, but it features three sharp climbs packed into the last 25km. The trouble spots: the upper third of the short (3km) Col de Grosse Pierre, which reaches 16 percent, and the 1.8km ramp to the finish in Gerardmer la Mauselaine, which has a sustained pitch near 11 percent. It’s perfect for a rider like Alejandro Valverde, World Champion Rui Costa, or Joaquim Rodriguez. The favorites will have to be mindful not to let gaps open.